Territory



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet i. T. J.. BAKER. PIRE ESCAPE.

No. BMQ. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

ao. FW' S14/00444505, A f M;

NA PETERS, Plwwulhngnpmr. washingwn. n.5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2;. T. J BAKER. FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 11,1888.

@wh/away UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE J. BAKER, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO ABNER J. STANCHEIELD, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,149, dated December 11, 1888. Applioation'led August 17, 1888. Serial No. 282,970. (No model.)

T0 all 107mm 'it may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE J. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and Territory of Utah, havcin vented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes; and it consists of the peculiar combination of devices and novel construction and arrangement ot' parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. y

The object of my invention is to provide an improved .tire-escape by which a person in a burning building or structure can readily and quickly descend from an elevated room or apartment and be able to control the speed of the descent, so as to reach the ground with entire safety.

A further object of my invention is to construct and arrange the friction-rolls in a pes culiar manner, so that a very great friction is brought on the cords or ropes when the case or shell descends thereon, and to permit the cords or ropes to be readily and easily drawn between the same to readjust the fire-escape for service after it has been returned to the room or apart-meut from which the previous descent has been made, and thus enable persons remaining in said apart-ment to in turn make their escape therefrom.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a iii-eescape embodying my invention and adjusted in position for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view through the inclosing case or shell on the line .r of Eig. Il. Fig.' 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on theline ly /y of Fig. Fig. -l is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 2, looking' in the direction of the arrow. Eig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the gripping-rolls and their tached from the shell or casing. Fig. (j is a detail view of a springclamp- Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the inclosing shell or case ol a tire-escape embodying my invention. This shell or case is adapted to be suspended out of a window by means of a rope, (l, which is attached to a suitable livture or heavy piece of furniture or other unmovablc object in the room or apartment. To the sides of the inclosing shell or case are secured loops or eyes a', to which are connected ropes Y), that suspend a receptacle, B, from the inclosing shell or case, as clearly shown in Fig. l. This receptacle is arranged immediately below the case, and it is made large enough to contain one or more persons.

I lay no stress upon the particular form of the receptacle shown herein, as I am aware that numerous different forms of receptacles can be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Within the upper part of the inclosing case or shell I arrange a series of vertical frictionrolls, which will be presently more fully described, around which are passed cords or ropes C C', which are connected at their upper ends, and to which the rope a is secured. (See Fig. l.) The rolls are held in iixed positions when the inclosing shell or case slides or descends on the cords or ropes; but said friction-rolls are adapted to rotate freely on their axes when the cords or ropes are drawn through the case or shell and between the rolls by the hand after the case or shell has been returned to the apartment, which thereby permits said ropes or cords to bc drawn freely through the box, or between the said rolls, and enables it to be again quickly and easily adjusted for use. Below the friction-rolls I arrange a pair of gripping-rolls, by means of which the speed with which the shell or case slides over the rope can be readily controlled by the person occupying the receptacle B, in the manner which I will presently describe.

I) D designate the large friction-rolls, which are arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane in the upper part of the shell or supporting and adjusting mechanism det case, near the sides thereof. These large fric- IOO tion-rolls are of equal diameter, and of such width as to fit snugly within the side walls of the case, each roll being loosely journaled on a shaft, d, which is fixed in -the walls of the case. Between this pair of large friction-rolls I provide another pair of friction-rolls, E E',

of slightly-smaller diameter, which are arto rotate on their axis in reverse directions to each other-the one to the right and the other to the leftand the intermediate grooved rolls, E E', are likewise limited to turn in reverse directions to each other on the common shaft c. Each roll is limited to rotation on its axis in one direction by means of pawls G, which take in notches g, formed in the periphery of the rolls. These notches are inclined, as shown, and terminate in abrupt shoulders g', against which the free ends of the pawls rest to prevent said rolls from rotating in one direction, while the rolls are permitted to rotate freely in the reverse directions by the pawls slipping over the shoulders g. The pawls are pivoted to the side walls of the inclosing shell or case,- and the free ends thereof are normally pressed in contact with the rolls by means of springs g2, which are 'suitably held in position.

It will be noted that the rolls D E rotate in the same direction,while the rolls D E rotate in the reverse direction, and the notches in the rolls D E are therefore inclined in one direction, while the notches of the other rolls are inclined in'the reverse directions.

The cord or rope C passes through an aperture, c, in the top of the box, and is then coiled once completely around the larger friction-roll, D, and then passes around the upper part of the intermediate roll, e, within the 'groove thereof, and vthence downward between the rolls E and D to the gripping-rolls. The cord or ropeC passes through a separate aperture, c', in' the upper side of the case or shell, is then coiled once around the larger friction-roll, D,'said cord C being then passed around the friction-roll E in the reverse direction that the cord C passes around the roll E,and thence passes to and between the gripping-rolls, parallel with the other cord, C, the two cords C C emerging from the lower end of the case or shell through suitable apertures, as shown. The cords or ropes are thus coiled in a circuitous manner and in reverse directions around the two pairs of rolls D D and E E', which rolls are held against movement and in fixed stationary positions by the pawls when the case or shell slides on the ropes, which secures a great amount of friction on the ropes and rolls to prevent the case or shell from sliding too freely on the ropes. It will be noted that the cords can be drawn by hand in the reverse direction through the case or shell very easily, as the friction-rolls turn or rotate freely on their axis when the cords or ropes are drawn iu the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

After the ropes have been properly wound around the friction-rolls they are passed between yielding gripping-rolls H H,which are arranged in substantially the saine horizontal plane in the lower part of the box or case below the friction-rolls. One of these rolls, H, is mounted in fixed bearings so as to turn axially, while the other roll is adapted toslide toward or from the lfixed roll, and thereby release the cords or ropes orbind firmly thereon, according to the direction the regulatingscrew is turned. The rolls are mounted centrally in a frame, l, which is securely fixed in the lower part of the shell or case, and has an elongated slot or recess, in which the rollers work and through which the cords or ropes pass. The adjustable roll H is adapted to be forced toward the stationary roll by means of sliding plates j, which are connected to a transverse bridge, j', upon which operates the inner end of a horizontal regulating-screw, J, that works in a fixed bearing in one end of the frame l, and has its outer end extended through one of the end walls of the shell or case, so it can be conveniently manipulated. The sliding plates j are arranged between the sides of the frame I, and at their inner ends are recessed, so as to fit snugly around the trunnions of the adjustable gripping-roll H.

One end of the shaft of the fixed grippingroll H is extended through one of the sides of the shell or case, and to said extended end of the shaft is secured a crank, 7i, by means of which the person in the receptacle can control the speed with which the box or case rides over the cords or ropes.

To the lower end of the box or case, at the points where the ropes or cords C C emerge therefrom, I provide a spring-clamp, K, which is adapted to bind on the ropes C C. This clamp compresses the ropes and prevents the case or shell from sliding thereon when aperson first enters the receptacle, should the gripping-rolls H H be free from saidropes, and thereby avoid accidental descent of the recep-tacle and case. The clamp is made of a piece of spring metal, which is bent to Vform an eye, k, and two laterally-diverging arms, k', which are adapted to be grasped by hand to force the sides of the eye open and-cause it to loosen itsgrip and detach itself from the ropes C C entirely, said clamp being suitably connected to the case or shell to permit the arms thereof to be readily compressed.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The receptacle is properly connected to the case or shell, and one end of the rope'a is secured to a suitable fixture or article of furni- IOC) IIO

ture in the room, atter which the case or shell and receptacle are lowered out of the window, as indicated in Fig. l. The person or persons now descend into the receptacle, and should the gripping-rolls be free from the ropes or cords through oversight attending the haste with which the apparatus was prepared and adjusted out ot the window tor use, t-he clamp having a grip upon the ropes prevents the receptacle and case. from prematurely descending. IVhen the grimiing-rolls properly bind upon the ropes, the clamp being removed, the occupant ot' the receptacle grasps the crank 71. and rotates the same to allow the cords or ropes to slip around the friction-rolls and between the gripping-rolls, thus lowerin the case and receptacle at the desired speed tothe ground. l'f desired, the regulating-screw can be turned to release the gripping-rolls and the cords or ropes grasped by hand, the occupant ot' the receptacle lowerinthe same hand over hand, which is quite important should the apparatus become broken, &c. After the occupant ot' the receptacle has alighted said receptacle and case or shell can be drawn to the apartment by the occupant thereot', and the ropes or cords quickly drawn through the shell, as the friction-rolls turn freely, and thus adapt the escape for use again.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion ot parts and details ot' construction can be made without departing from the spirit or sacritcing the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a tire-escape, the combination of a shell or case, a pair of friction-rolls, D D', located on the same horizontal plane and at opposite sides ot' the shell, another pair ot' friction-rolls, E E', mounted on a common shaft between said rolls D D, pawls tor limiting the rotation ot the rolls D E in one direction and the rolls D E in the reverse direction, two cords or ropes, each one of which is passed in a reverse direction around one roll ot' each pair of t'rictioii-rolls, and a pair ot grippingrolls located in the vertical plane of the pair of intermediate rolls, E E', substantially as described.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of a shell or case, a pair of plain friction-rolls, D D', located on the same horizontal plane at opposite sides of said shell, a pair of grooved intermediate friction-rolls loosely mounted on a connnon shaft between said rolls D D', pawls for limiting the rolls D E and D E to rotation on their axes in reverse directions, two cords entering the shell at widely-separate points, thence passing (round the friction-rolls and emerging from the shell at a common point, and a pair of yielding gripping-rolls located in the vertical plane of the intermediate rolls, E E, substantiallyT as described.

In a lire-escape, the combination ot' a pair of notched t`rictionrolls, D D', located on opposite sides of a ease or shell and supported on independent shafts, another pair ot' notched friction-rollsJi E, arranged between the rolls D D and located side by side on a common shaft, pawls tor limiting the rolls to rotation on their axes in one direction, and cords or ropes passing around the trictitm-rolls, substantially as described.

4. In a lire-escape, the combination of the friction-rolls l) D and E E', the gripping rolls H Il, arranged in the vertical plane of the rolls E E', and the two cords passing around said friction-rolls and between the `gripping-rolls, one of the gripping-rolls being fixed and having a crank, and the other heilig movably mounted to slide toward ortl rom the other roll, subst antially as described.

5. In a irc-escz-tlie, the combination ot a shell or case, the friction-rolls l) D and E E', a fixed frame, I, arranged in the lower part ot' said case below the friction-rolls, the cords or ropes, a stationary gripping-roll, ll, ]'ournaled in said Frame and having a crank, h, a sliding gripping-roll, ll, also journaled in said frame in the same horizontal plane. as the roll ll, the connected slides/j, arranged at one side of the sliding gripping-roll and guided in the frame, and a regulatingscrew, sulistantiall)v as described.

(3. A fire-escape consistin ot a case or shell having the friction-rolls, the cords or ropes, and a spring-clamp located exteriorly to the shell to which it is connected and adapted to the ropes, substantially as described.

7. A llire-escape consisting of a ease or shell having the friction-rolls, the cords or ropes, and the spring-clamp connected exteriorly to the shell and normally t'ree from said ropes, said clamp having an eye, and the yielding arms which are adapted to bite upon the ropes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

THEODORE J. BAKER.

lVitnesses:

JOHN A. MARSHALL, SAML. L. SPRAGUE.

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